Here the series focuses on the Mississippi River. Prior to the war, Cory Brannon had gone west to seek his fortune and joins the crew of a steamboat whose captain has definite loyalties. Brannon soon finds himself at the battles of Forts Henry and Donelson and winds up at Pittsburg Landing, where the battle of Shiloh temporarily stymies the Union advance into the Confederate heartland.

Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2010. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.